North Wales missing out on rail investment

Nia Griffith MP, Labour’s Shadow Welsh Secretary, has warned that Wales is missing out on rail investment in favour of services in England. Speaking at Welsh Questions in the House of Commons, she said:

“The Government’s so-called Northern Powerhouse will bring no benefit to North Wales unless we see the much needed investment in infrastructure that this Government has so far failed to deliver. When he visited Broughton in July, the Chancellor said he would “look at” rail electrification in North Wales, but so far he has failed to act.”

She also raised a letter seen by Labour in which the Department for Transport dismisses the prospect of a direct rail link from North Wales to Manchester airport, saying:

“North Wales also needs better rail links to Manchester airport, and Arriva Trains Wales has proposed a direct service from Llandudno to the airport. So can the Secretary of State explain why, instead of investing in greater capacity en route to Manchester airport, his colleagues at the Department for Transport have rejected Arriva’s plan, supposedly in favour of extra transpennine services? If his place at the Cabinet table counts for anything, what’s he going to do about it?”